US military strike at North Korean vessel would send Tehran a strong signal
DEBKAfile’s military sources report that no official in Washington, Seoul or Tokyo can say whether the US and North Korea are heading for a naval clash, a limited air engagement or possibly a small incident that could get out of hand and blow up into a major encounter.
While ruling out a nuclear conflict, none of the three parties involved can promise tactical ordinance such as artillery shells and mines will not be used at some point.
The UN Security Council resolution of Friday, June 12 mandated sanctions, approved at Washington’s behest, that authorize UN member nations’ naval vessels to stop and search North Korean ships suspected of carrying nuclear materials.
Pyongyang said this measure would be deemed an act of war on the Korean peninsula and draw a “thousand fold” military retaliation.
However, at stake for the United States is a far larger issue, DEBKA-Net-Weekly’s Washington sources report: It relates to America’s standing as the leading nuclear superpower and guardian of the global nuclear order. In this sense, the Korean crisis confronts Barack Obama with a supreme test as US president with major ramifications for the Iranian program.
DEBKAfile’s military sources report that no official in Washington, Seoul or Tokyo can say whether the US and North Korea are heading for a naval clash, a limited air engagement or possibly a small incident that could get out of hand and blow up into a major encounter.
While ruling out a nuclear conflict, none of the three parties involved can promise tactical ordinance such as artillery shells and mines will not be used at some point.
The UN Security Council resolution of Friday, June 12 mandated sanctions, approved at Washington’s behest, that authorize UN member nations’ naval vessels to stop and search North Korean ships suspected of carrying nuclear materials.
Pyongyang said this measure would be deemed an act of war on the Korean peninsula and draw a “thousand fold” military retaliation.
However, at stake for the United States is a far larger issue, DEBKA-Net-Weekly’s Washington sources report: It relates to America’s standing as the leading nuclear superpower and guardian of the global nuclear order. In this sense, the Korean crisis confronts Barack Obama with a supreme test as US president with major ramifications for the Iranian program.
